Canker-suggestions for treating feral flock?

[Jules]

I've just found a young pidj with canker. I've treated the little guy with 1/2 spartrix and will keep my fingers crossed.
The concern I have is that there are about 20-35 feral pigeons that spend all day in my yard. I've set up a communal kitty litter box for their bathing and drinking and although it's emptied/cleaned at least twice a day I've concerns that others might have canker and will pass it on.
I had started a couple weeks ago putting some apple cider vineger into the water but I don't think that'll help canker.
Suggestions as to what I can put in the water would be appreciated.

To complicate matters, I've had the pigeons inviting all their friends and the flock had grown to 100+. Neighbours complained so I've had to stop feeding them all for a while until it's back to just my usual crew. I'm mentioning this because I cannot add something to the feed to help stop the spread of canker right now and this will last for at least three weeks.

Thanks

Julianne

[Yong]

Well, I know that they have canker stuff that goes into water supplies, but I never used them. I treated a pigeon of mine (feral) that had severe canker. I changed the water, trimmed back the food so that only my regulars were her (to thin down the possible transmit offenders) and to my knowledge, no others in my flock have come down with anything. Just keep things as clean as possible. Don't let baby mix with the others until fully healed. Good luck! Yong

[Snowbird]

Canker is easy to treat in your feral flock.

I have about 105 birds and they are regular though this is technically an aggregation of members of a few different flocks. I treat them twice a year for canker. I don't medicate in the water--water consumption is notoriously uneven, especially in ferals who may have drunk before coming. Put it in the feed. Feed them in the morning when they are all hungry and consuming about the same amount. Use Turbosole for several reasons: 1) it is better than other choices--all other choices except when you have a single bird to treat and then Spartix is more controllable; 2) Turbosole is very safe and you can give a strong dose and not worry about toxicity; 3) Turbosle will kill blood sucking parasites such as pigeon flies--most ferals have external parasites but I haven't seen a pigepn fly on my birds.

I do the treatment when the birds are coming in a consistent number--when it is highest so I get more birds treated. As mentioned, I do it in the morning when they will be hungry. Stir in a little oil of choice on the seed--this is less than you think--start very small and mix thoroughly until you can just see a glint of light reflecting off the seeds. I then mix the Turbosole in and again stir thoroughly. The dosage I use is a single bird dose (which is not given but I can help you with this) plus about 15% because some is lost in the mixing. You give them a two day course unless you have a big canker problem then you give more but I have never seen canker in my birds.

By the way if you have problems with the neighbors then morning feeding only is safer--the birds will show in numbers in the afternoon this way. You can also medicate once a year for worms in the same way.

[KIPPY]

I had some canker going through the flock in my backyard and bought Pegosan (powder add to water) from Siegels. I also do the ACV in the water. I have not seen much canker lately. Knock on wood!